Colo. prison escapee charged with several crimes

An inmate who broke out of a maximum security prison in northeast Colorado has been charged with escape, holding hostages and kidnapping.

The Denver Post reports that 48-year-old Douglas Alward also was charged Monday with being a habitual criminal, first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

Authorities say Alward escaped from the Sterling Correctional Facility Aug. 22 by crawling under an electric fence. He surrendered three days later at a home near Yuma, where authorities say he held a woman hostage for a few hours.

Alward was serving time for attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and burglary. Authorities say it was his fourth escape from a prison.